t took five weeks, but Jacob Keller seems to have found his comfort zone as Fenwick’s starting quarterback.
Keller found a couple of familiar faces as his receiving targets while the junior enjoyed his biggest game as a varsity player during a 38-19 Catholic League crossover victory over DePaul Prep on Friday, Sept. 25, at Lane Stadium in Chicago. He threw a career-high four touchdown passes, two each to classmates who played with Keller on Fenwick’s sophomore team last season.
Tight end Jack Henige caught Keller’s first two TD passes in the first quarter on receptions of 3 and 9 yards to cap each of the Friars’ first two drives. Wide receiver Sherman Martin hauled in Keller’s final two TD passes, a 25-yard catch to end the second quarter and a 40-yarder to close out the game’s scoring late in the third quarter.
“I have been studying a lot of film,” Keller said. “I took what the defense gave me. I saw the cornerback starting to bail on every play, so I took what he was going to do.”
Keller, an Aurora resident, finished 13 for 22 for 224 yards.
Henige had four catches for a season-high 75 yards and Martin had four catches for 71 yards against DePaul (4-1).
“Me and Jacob played basketball together over the summer,” Henige said. “We were on the sophomore (football team) together last year. That was a lot of fun. When we were in doubles at morning practices (before the season), we worked on our routes and timing. I think that has paid off.”
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Keller was named the starting varsity quarterback after junior Casey O’Laughlin suffered a season-ending triceps injury during a 40-16 loss to Phillips on Aug. 28 in the season opener.
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In the opener, the Friars (2-3, 1-1) used all three quarterback candidates, including senior Gavin Graves. Keller and O’Laughlin were expected to share the bulk of the snaps until the left-handed O’Laughlin hurt his throwing arm and became one of five Fenwick players to leave the game with an injury. O’Laughlin saw his season end after throwing two passes, completing one for 13 yards.
Keller entered and went 10 for 27 for 111 yards.
Keller looks poised in the pocket under coach Gene Nudo’s pro-style system. The Friars are one of the few teams in the area that does not run a spread offense. Keller also ran the ball four times for 25 yards.
“He is starting to understand what we are trying to do,” Nudo said. “It took a while, but he’s getting it.”
Nudo has worked with professional athletes as a coach and general manager in the Arena Football League and has been known to bring old-school intensity to his coaching. He said Keller has learned to adjust to his coaching style and that the quarterback might have been prepared after playing last season for Fenwick basketball coach Rick Malnati.
“I’ve gotten to know (Keller) better. I didn’t know Jacob, since he was the sophomore quarterback last year,” Nudo said. “I think playing varsity basketball has helped his seasoning. He gets to deal with me and deal with Rick Malnati. We are both stern taskmasters.”
Twitter @geomwilcox